Viruses can ’hijack’ cellular process to block immune response

Research led by McGill University and Queen's University Belfast has found that viruses can 'hijack' an existing molecular process in the cell in order to block the body's antiviral immune response to a viral infection. The results of the study have been published in the journal Molecular Cell . As the current COVID-19 pandemic has proven, viral infection is a significant threat to the health of humans as well as livestock, pets, and plants. Discovery of a potentially druggable process that is hijacked by the virus to facilitate viral infection could have significant health and financial benefits to society. Molecular investigation unlocks discovery . To conduct their study the researchers looked at how healthy cells control the levels of the molecules known as 'Interferon-ß' or 'Interferon beta'. These molecules are used for communication between cells to trigger the protective defenses of the immune system that help eradicate pathogens, such as viral microbes.